Bath drain closure assembly

ABSTRACT

A bath drain assembly for use with a bathtub having a drain closure device mounted to a bottom drain and a movable actuating member engaging the drain closure device such that the drain closure device is toggled between open an closed positions when activated. A control device is in electronic communication with a sensor adapted to sense water level of fluid contained within the bathtub such that the drain closure device is moved to an open position via the actuating member when the sensor detects a given water level.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bathtub drain closure assembly. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a bath drain closure device thatis opened and closed when the water level in the bathtub reaches a givenlevel.

Bathtubs are often left unattended while filling. Accordingly, overflowdrains are typically supplied to prevent overflow from the bathtub.However, even with overflow drains it is still possible for the bathtubto overflow if the overflow drain is of insufficient capacity or if aperson suddenly enters an overfull bathtub.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a drainclosure assembly for a bathtub which opens the bottom drain when thewater level in the bathtub reaches a given level.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bath drain assembly for use with a bathtub having a drain closuredevice associated with a bathtub drain and a movable actuating memberengaging the drain closure device such that the drain closure device istoggled between open and closed positions when actuated.

A sensor, mounted in a position to detect the water level within thebathtub, provides a signal that changes the position of the actuatingmember which moves the drain closure device to an open position to allowwater to drain from the tub.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub environment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a drain closure assembly associatedwith a bathtub taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sensor associated with a bathtub;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view of an actuating memberassociated with a bathtub bottom drain;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional side view of the actuating member ofFIG. 4 when activated;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional side view of another embodiment of anactuating member associated with a bathtub bottom drain; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional side view of the actuating member ofFIG. 6 when activated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional bathtub 10 has an upperoverflow drain 12 and a lower drain 14 (also referred to as a bottomdrain). The upper overflow drain is located at one end wall 16 of thebathtub 10 for draining overflow fluids from the bathtub 10. The lowerdrain 14 is located in the bottom 18 of the bathtub 10 for drainingfluids from the bottom of the bathtub 10.

The drain closure assembly 19 has a drain closure 20 associated with thelower drain 14 and an actuating member or mechanism 22 that isoperatively associated with the drain closure device 20 to open andclose the bottom drain 14. The drain closure device 20 is of many types.As one example and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the drain closure device 20has a stopper 24 with a plunger 26 extending therefrom that isthreadably received in a nut portion 28 of a strainer body 30. Theplunger 26 is comprised of a hollow sleeve 32 with a shaft or a stem 34that extends above and below the strainer body and has a an upper endconnected to the stopper 24, and a lower end that terminates in a head36. As another example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the drain closuredevice is a flap 38 that is movably connected to the bottom of thestrainer body 30.

The actuating member 22 is of many types such as a solenoid, a motor, orthe like. In one example, the actuating member 22 comprises a solenoidpiston 40 having a main body 42 with first and second magnets 44positioned at opposite ends of the main body 42. A conical tip 46extends from one end of the main body 42 and engages the head 36 of thestem 34 of the plunger 26. The actuating member is slidably receivedwithin a housing 48 that is in communication with conduit 49 such thatrim 50 supports the actuating member 22 within conduit 48. The drainconduit 49 is of any configuration including those shown in FIGS. 3-6.Mounted around the housing 46 is a coil 52 that is located exterior toboth the housing 48 and the conduit 49. Extending from the coil 52 is anelectrical contact 54 that connects the actuating member 22 to anactivation switch 56. The activation switch 56 is connected to a powersupply that provides an electrical charge to the coil 52. The powersource is of many types including but not limited to an electricaloutlet. A transformer (not shown) may optionally be inserted between thepower source 57 and the drain closure assembly 19 to modify powerprovided to assembly 19. The activation switch allows a user toselectively move the actuating member 22 to open and close drain 14.

A sensor 58 is mounted in the bathtub 10 environment to sense the waterlevel 60 contained within the bathtub 10. The sensor is located in avariety of positions such a below the overflow drain 12, above theoverflow drain 12, in the end wall of the bathtub opposite end wall 16,in the sidewalls of the bathtub 10, or within the overflow drain 12. Thesensor 58 is of many types. One example, as shown in FIG. 3, includes ahousing 62 with an aperture 64 and first and second leads 66 and 68. Thefirst and second leads 66 and 68 are adjacent aperture 64 and are spacedsuch that when the water level 60 rises to fill the space between leads66 and 68 a complete circuit is formed. The sensor 58 is connected to acontrol device 70 which is connected to the activation switch 56 oralternatively to the actuating member 22. When a complete circuit isformed in sensor 58 a signal is communicated through the control device70 that overrides the charge provided to the actuating member 22 to movethe drain closure device 10 to an open position.

In operation, when a user wishes to fill the tub, the activation switch56 is engaged such that a charge from the power source 57 is provided tothe coil 52 to move the actuating member 22 which in turn moves thedrain closure device 20 to a closed position to allow the tub to fillwith fluid. As the water level rises to a point where the water level 60completes the circuit between first and second leads 66 an 68 of sensor58, then a signal is sent from the sensor 58 to control device 70 whichin turn interrupts the charge supplied to the drain closure assemblysuch that the actuating member 22 is activated and the drain closuredevice 20 is moved to an open position to allow water to drain from thetub 10. In one embodiment, when the water level 60 falls such that acomplete circuit is no longer formed in sensor 58, the original chargefrom the power source 57 is restored and the drain closure assembly 19returns to an open position.

Therefore, as shown from the preceding description the stated objectivehas been accomplished.

1. A bath drain assembly for use with a bathtub having a bottom with adrain, end walls, and sidewalls, comprising: a drain closure deviceoperatively associated with the drain to open and close the drain; anactuating member that engages the drain closure device to move the drainclosure device from an open position to a closed position; and a sensoradapted to sense a pre-selected level of water and send a signalactivating the actuating member to move the drain closure device to theopen position when the water level is sensed.
 2. The bath drain assemblyof claim 1, wherein the actuating member is a motor.
 3. The bath drainassembly of claim 1, wherein the actuating member is a solenoid.
 4. Thebath drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a first andsecond lead and adapted to form a complete circuit when the water levelrises to contact the first and second leads.
 5. The bath drain assemblyof claim 1, wherein the bathtub includes an overflow drain in an endwall of the bathtub, and wherein the sensor is located above theoverflow drain.
 6. The bath drain assembly of claim 1, wherein thebathtub includes an overflow drain in an end wall of the bathtub, andwherein the sensor is located below the overflow drain.
 7. The bathdrain assembly of claim 1, wherein the control device is an electroniccircuit
 8. The bath drain assembly of claim 1, wherein the controldevice is a computer.
 9. The bath drain assembly of claim 1, wherein thebathtub includes an overflow drain in an end wail of the bathtub, andwherein the sensor is located within the overflow drain.
 10. The bathdrain assembly of claim 1, further comprising a control device connectedto the sensor.